HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Senior forward Elijah Pittman(Covington, Ky.) was named one of 16 Conference USA Players to Watch for the upcoming 2013-14 season as selected by the coaches.

Pittman led the team in scoring last season with 16.1 points per game and holds the title as the top returning scorer in Conference USA. He scored double-digit points in all but four games and netted at least 20 points in 11 games. During the Herd's five game exhibition trip in Canada this past August, Pittman averaged 16.4 points and 7.4 rebounds. Of Marshall's five returners from the 2012-13 season, 89.1 percent of the scoring was by Pittman.

Earlier in the week, Pittman garnered an honor from CollegeSportsMadness.com as a member of the Preseason C-USA First Team.

Joining him with recognition from The Madness is redshirt freshman Ryan Taylor(Indianapolis, Ind.) as Preseason Freshman of the Year. He averaged 12.0 points and 8.2 rebounds over the five games in Canada including three double-doubles. Taylor came to Marshall after playing one year at Hargrave Military Academy for former Marshall player A.W. Hamilton. He helped Hargrave to a 38-1 record and a No. 2 national ranking while averaging 22 points and 11 rebounds.